PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 18 and over Performance status: ECOG 0-2 Life expectancy: At least 6 months Hematopoietic: Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm3 Platelet count at least 100,000/mm3 Hemoglobin at least 8.5 g/Dl Hepatic: Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) AST no greater than 3 times ULN (no greater than 5 times ULN if liver metastases present) Serum cholesterol no greater than 350 mg/Dl Triglycerides no greater than 300 mg/Dl Renal: Creatinine no greater than 1.5 times ULN Cardiovascular: No unstable angina or life-threatening ventricular arrhythmia requiring maintenance therapy No myocardial infarction within the past 6 months Other: No other malignancy in past 5 years other than basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer HIV negative No active infection Not immunocompromised No other major illness that would preclude study Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for 3 months after the study